Locksmithing/opening a old safe

QUESTION: I have a old safe that belonged to my grandfather, but we have no combination. It says it is a Victor safe and has my grandfathers name at the top and 1904. It has a dial on the front and is on wheels. It weights about 800 lbs!!! We are trying to clean out a storage unit and would really like to see if there is anything in the safe and how to dispose of the safe. I would really appreciate any help you could give me.
Thanks so much for your time.
Carol

ANSWER: Hi Carol,

If you don't have a combination then you basically have two options to open it. You can try all of the 1,000,000 possible combinations until it opens, or you can have a safe technician from a local safe company open it for you.

the dialing sequence for the lock I would expect to be on this container, would be:

4 times left to the first number,
3 times right to the second number,
2 times left to the third number,
1 time right until the dial stops.

Note: left is counter clockwise, right is clockwise. DO NOT count the revolutions of the dial count the individual number as it arrives at the 12 o'clock index mark.

If it still won't open, you may need a safe technician. If you don't have a local safe company then let me know where you are located (zipcode) and I'll see who I might know in your area.

As far as disposing of the safe - as this company went out of business in 1920 (they were acquired by the Safe Cabinet Company and the name changed to Victor Equipment Company, after their move to Mariotta, OH. so depending on the age, it may be an antique, and at minimum it would be collectible.
As for selling it, you would have to advertise, advertise, adverstise.

Hope this helps,

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: Thanks for getting back to me. We live in Iowa and our zip code is 52101, but the safe is in a storage unit in Iowa City and that zip code is 52241. If you would know of someone to help us open it that would be great!

AnswerCarol,

The 1904 date on the safe, indicates an award presentation for a display during the 1904 Louisiana Purchase Exposition in St. Louis. This award was displayed on safes over the next 10 or so years, for advertising purposes.

Unfortunately I don't know of anyone closer that I would recommend, the following two are around 165 miles away. You can contact them to see if they know of anyone closer to you, or if they can help you. If you can take the safe to them, it will save you quite a bit of $$$'s for travel charges.

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